Interesting thought

Posted by David Hardy · 2 September 2008 05:17 PM

In light of "identity politics," folks have been seeing Sarah Palin's nomination as intended to peel off women voters. But might nominating an attractive woman who loves to hunt and shoot be aimed at a different demographic?

Palin has strong appeal for women across the political spectrum. If she debates Biden, for example, she might say to him, "You wouldn't say that if I were a man." And millions of American women watching on TV will nod their heads and say, "Tell it, sister!" Conservative women, liberal women, libertarian women, independent women, PUMA's; she's got a lot of potential to get votes from unexpected quarters.

And then there's the "hook and bullet" crowd; mostly men, but plenty of women, too. She is very attractive, too, and that can't be underestimated; I'm convinced that John Edwards's boyish good looks gave him a slight edge with women that he didn't have with men. And I think that the situation with Palin is similar: men will give her a few seconds more of their attention than they would otherwise. 'Course, what she says in those few seconds had better close the deal. But without their looks, neither Edwards nor Palin would get a chance to make their pitch.

Palin is kind of a latter-day Teddy Roosevelt: she hunt, fishes, shoots, she's a corruption-fighter and a conservationist. She even wears similar glasses!

Sarah Palin has the one great qualification some of us overlook. She understands the Bill of Rights. God knows Osama Obama and Joe Biden couldn't pass a 5th grade test on it. We must start electing candidates who believe in freedom for all rather than power for a few. This lady has my vote.

Just let them keep talking about the women Palin might appeal to. As long as they do that, they'll miss the men of middle America who are fired up about her. Men who haven't been turning out in elections but just might this year.

In any case, Palin appeals to those parts of the country that the "sophisticated" types in the media and Dem party only visit for the perfunctory primary. I predict that the turn out in the so called "bitter and clingy" areas of the country is going to be huge.